Connor back on Allen's radar

CHELTENHAM Town boss Martin Allen has been forced to turn to misfiring striker Paul Connor because of a shortage of forwards at the club.

The 30-year-old was told by Allen that he should look elsewhere, but that the door was not totally closed to him.

Connor scored only two goals last term, but he has won plaudits for his workrate from all three of the managers under whom he has played at Cheltenham – John Ward, Keith Downing and Allen – despite his disappointing strike rate.

He will return to join the club for training this week and Allen says he is the sort of player the club needs on its return to Coca-Cola League Two, a level at which Connor has scored most of his 74 career league goals.

"I am still considering him (Connor) because he was a diamond towards the end of the season," Allen said.

"In one game he played on the right wing, got cramp with about 10 minutes to go and he got a standing ovation from the whole ground for running his heart out. That's the sort of people we are going to need.

"I want people who have full commitment to our squad and who can adapt to different positions without sulking or moaning.

"He was magnificent, so we will see how it all pans out."

Allen currently has 15 professional players signed on, with the new season a little over a month away.

Among the squad are only two senior strikers, Elvis Hammond and Justin Richards, along with youth team prospects Theo Lewis and Jake Lee. All four featured in Friday evening's 2-2 friendly draw at Bishop's Cleeve.

Connor, who was used in an unfamiliar midfield role at times last season, said a return to Cheltenham would be unlikely shortly after the end of last season and was considering the offer of a move abroad, but he remains a free agent and may now be willing to take a big pay cut to sign a new contract at the Abbey Business Stadium.

Bishop Auckland-born Connor scored seven goals in 53 league starts after Ward paid Leyton Orient £20,000 for him in January 2007 – a fee that rose by £5,000 after the Robins avoided relegation from League One that campaign.

Former Swindon Town midfielder Michael Pook was also set to train with Cheltenham this week.